Shield

ABSTRACT

A shield for a component comprises a cushion surrounding substantially an entire outer surface of the component and a hull surrounding substantially an entire outer surface of said cushion. The hull comprises at least one first shell, at least one edge of which is shaped as a first profile bent substantially in a shape of a U or a V toward an outside relative to the component, and at least one second shell, at least one edge of which, opposite said at least one edge of the at least one first shell, is molded according to a second profile bent substantially in a shape of a U or V toward an inside relative to the component. At least one edge of the first shell is able to be assembled to said at least one edge of the second shell by hooking of the first profile with the second profile.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. non-provisional application claiming the benefit of French Application No. FR 19 06390, filed on Jun. 14, 2019, which is incorporated herein by its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a shield able to surround a component, such as a tank, a pipe, a box or the like, in order to insulate the component from its environment, for example thermally, acoustically, mechanically, etc., in order to protect the component or the environment.

BACKGROUND

It is known, in order to produce a shield around a component, to position a protective cushion around the component and to hold the cushion in position using a hull surrounding the cushion, in a fitted manner, in order to press the cushion against the component. In order to be able to introduce the component, the hull is made from at least two shells that should be assembled. This assembly can be done using any method.

One method conventionally used is crimping or preferably self-crimping (absence of addition of material, such as a rivet), in that the facing edges of the shells are twisted together. This technology is expensive because it requires specific tools, is difficult to automate, and requires many manual presumptions. It additionally has the major drawback of forming sharp and slicing edges and the drawback of offering poor sealing.

SUMMARY

A shield for a component comprises a cushion surrounding substantially an entire outer surface of the component and a hull surrounding substantially an entire outer surface of said cushion. The hull comprises at least one first shell, at least one edge of which is shaped as a first profile bent substantially in a shape of a U or a V toward an outside relative to the component, and at least one second shell, at least one edge of which, opposite said at least one edge of the at least one first shell, is shaped as a second profile bent substantially in a shape of a U or V toward an inside relative to the component. The at least one edge of the at least one first shell is able to be assembled to said at least one edge of the at least one second shell by hooking of the first profile with the second profile.

According to one feature, at least one of the first and second shells has an elasticity, so as to allow the engagement of said at least one first profile with said at least one second profile and the performance of said at least one hooking, so as to produce an assembly of the first and second shells.

According to another feature, the shapes and sizes of the shells are determined so that they fit the shape of the cushion.

According to another feature, the cushion has a flexibility in compression, preferably an elasticity.

According to another feature, the at least one first shell and the at least one second shell form facing shells that are sized so that at least one among the edge of the first shell and the edge of the second shell deforms, preferably resiliently, during the hooking, so as to make the hooking inseparable.

According to another feature, the bending of the U or the V of a profile is rounded.

According to another feature, an edge molded according to the second profile covers a facing edge molded according to the first profile.

According to another feature, the cushion is a thermal insulator, preferably made from fiberglass, the hull is metallic, preferably made from stainless steel, so that the shield constitutes a heat shield.

According to another feature, the hull is made from a thin sheet, preferably with a thickness between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, still more preferably equal to 0.15 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, details and advantages of the disclosure will emerge more clearly from the detailed description provided below, for information and in reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a shield according to the disclosure, before assembly,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same embodiment, assembled,

FIG. 3 outlines the assembly of such a shield, and

FIG. 4 illustrates, in perspective view, a detailed view of the interface between two assembled shells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the disclosure relates to a shield 1 for a component 2. This component 2 can be of any type, any shape, as long as the component 2 requires protection from the environment or the environment must be protected from the component 2. Here, a circular cross-section is shown in order to stay simple, and for example, to show a pipe.

The shield 1 comprises a cushion 3 and a hull 4. The cushion 3 primarily performs the protective function, whether the latter is thermal, phonic, against light, vibration, fire, impacts, etc. To that end, the cushion 3 surrounds the component 2 over substantially its entire outer surface. The cushion can be made in one or several parts, comprise one or several layers, and be formed from one or several materials.

The hull 4 serves to keep the cushion 3 in place around the component 2, advantageously tightly, and may further complete the protection function by adding a protection function of the component 2, or by protecting the cushion 3 itself.

To that end, the hull 4 surrounds the entire outer surface of the cushion 3. In order to be able to insert the component 2 into the shield 1 or place the shield 1 around the component 1, the hull 4 comprises at least two shells 5, 6, which are able to be assembled together. These at least two shells 5, 6 comprise a first shell 5 and a second shell 6. The edges of the shells 5, 6 are configured so as to be positioned opposite one another, so as to be assembled together. To that end, an edge of the first shell 5 is shaped as a first profile 7, while an edge of the second shell 6, across from the edge of the first shell 5, is shaped as a second profile 8. The first profile 7 and the second profile 8 are both bent substantially in a U shape, or equivalently in a V shape. The first profile 7 is characterized in that the bending is done toward the outside. The second profile 8 is characterized in that the bending is done toward the inside. Both the inside and the outside are defined here relative to the component 2. This configuration with two facing complementary profiles 7 and 8 allows the edge of the first shell 5 to be assembled with the edge of the second shell 6 by mutual hooking of the first profile 7 with the second profile 8.

A shell 5, 6 can include a single edge, for example in the case of a component 2 of the “spherical” type. In this case, the edge of one shell 5, 6 has a first profile 7 and the edge of the other shell 5, 6 has a different second profile 8. There is only a single assembly between the two shells 5, 6.

A shell 5, 6 can include two edges, for example in the case of a component 2 of the “cylindrical” type. In this case, the two edges of a same shell 5, 6 can have different, or preferably identical, profiles 7, 8. However, an edge of one shell 5, 6 must have a different profile 7, 8 from the edge of the other shell 5, 6 facing it, at each of the two assemblies.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the placement and assembly of such a shield 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates the preparation. The cushion 3 is placed near the component 2, for example as illustrated, in the form of two half-cushions associated with the shells 5, 6. The shells 5, 6 are brought closer to one another, the edges, including the complementary profiles 7, 8, being across from one another. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the assembly can be made easier by positioning a shell 6 in a mold or lower press die 9 in order to hold it in place. The other shell 5 is next brought closer to the shell 6, for example using an upper die 10. Manual or assisted pressing is applied until hooking is done of the edge(s) including a first profile 7 with the edge(s) including a complementary second profile 8. The result of the assembly by catching of the shells 5, 6 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

According to another feature, at least one of the shells 5, 6 has an elasticity, so as to allow the engagement of said at least one first profile 7 with said at least one second profile 8 and the performance of said at least one hooking, so as to produce an assembly of the shells 5, 6.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the shells 5, 6 are dimensioned such that the edges bearing the complementary profiles 7, 8 are facing, with, however, a certain directional offset of the free branch of the U or the V.

The elasticity thus allows a first engagement movement, allowing a shell, here the shell 5, to deform or be deformed so as to move a first profile 7 centripetally while coming closer to the component 2 and/or to the other shell, here the shell 6, to deform or be deformed so as to move a second profile 8 centrifugally while moving away from the component 2. A resilient stress here is created on at least one of the shells 5, 6 by a tool or by the other shell. This first engagement movement allows the free branches of the two Us or Vs to pass one another.

The elasticity then further makes it possible, by releasing the stress previously created, to automatically place the free branches of the Us or Vs of each profile 7, 8 across from the opening of the U or the V of the other profile 7, 8. The hooking is then obtained by a second movement in the direction opposite the engagement movement, placing the free branch of the U or the V of each profile 7, 8 in the opening of the U or the V of the other profile 7, 8, thus producing the hooking of the two profiles 7, 8.

The elasticity further makes it possible, the first engagement movement having been done, for example without stress, the free branches of the two Us or Vs having been passed relative to one another, to apply a stress so as to deform a shell, here the shell 5, so as to move the first profile 7 centrifugally and/or to deform the other shell, here the shell 6, so as to move a second profile 8 centripetally, in order to place the free branches of the Us or Vs of each profile 7, 8 across from the opening of the U or V of the other profile 7, 8. The hooking is then obtained by a second movement in the direction opposite the engagement movement, placing the free branch of the U or the V of each profile 7, 8 in the opening of the U or the V of the other profile 7, 8. A release of the preceding stress then ensures a mutual bearing of the free branches of the Us or Vs of the two profiles 7, 8 and a maintenance of the hooking.

The two embodiments described in the two previous paragraphs depend on the relative dimensions of the edges of the facing hulls 5, 6 and respective shapes and sizes of the two profiles 7, 8. These two embodiments can be alternative or complementary.

According to another feature, the shapes and sizes of the shells 5, 6 are determined so that they fit the shape of the cushion 3. Thus, the cushion 3 is advantageously immobilized by the hull 4.

According to another feature, the cushion 3 has a flexibility in compression. This flexibility in compression, even slight, advantageously makes it possible to perform the first engagement movement, as long as the flexibility allows a movement amplitude of the length of the free branches of the Us and Vs allowing them to pass one another. Advantageously, if this flexibility is an elasticity, the cushion 3 is resiliently compressed during the first engagement movement. The release of this compression stress then automatically performs the second movement in the opposite direction, producing the hooking and/or assisting with maintaining it.

According to another feature, the facing shells 5, 6 are sized so that at least one among the edge of the first shell 5 and the edge of the second shell 6 deforms, preferably resiliently, during the hooking. This advantageously makes it possible to make the hooking, and therefore the assembly of the shells 5, 6, inseparable.

Optionally, a deformation of the profile 7, 8, for example by plastic deformation of the free branch of the U or the V, further reinforces the inseparability.

Indeed, the two facing profiles 7, 8 work like fish bones, which engage with one another; it is then very difficult, or necessary to use a specific tool, to attempt any disassembly. Additionally, such a disassembly will in all likelihood deform/damage at least one of the shells 5, 6, thus making reassembly impossible.

This advantage, present with the crimping technology, is sought in that it makes it possible to prohibit a user from changing the cushion 3 in a manner not authorized by the builder of the shield 1.

According to another feature, the bending of the U or the V of a profile 7, 8 is rounded. This has several advantages. Such rounding, on at least one of the two profiles 7, 8, is advantageous during the engagement in that it forms a bevel/chamfer that helps the shapes of the two facing profiles 7, 8 to slide over one another, thus facilitating their mutual engagement. Another advantage, more specifically applying to the second profile 8, in that it is found after assembly, on the outside, is not having a harmful shape. The shield 1 thus produced does not present any risk.

According to another feature, an edge molded according to the second profile 8 covers a facing edge molded according to the first profile 7. Thus, the first profile 7 is covered by the second profile 8, which conceals and protects it. The second profile 8 is positioned outside the shield 1 and alone is optionally in contact with a potential user. Thus, the second profile 8 hides its sharp edge, at the end of the free branch of the U or the V, and covers and hides the sharp edge of the first profile 7.

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail in cut perspective view of a hooking between a first profile 7 and a second profile 8.

The disclosure can apply to a shield covering a part with a complex shape. The shells must be molded correctly to fit the shape of the outer shape of the component, but the disclosure is not limited to a cylindrical component. It is more obvious for one skilled in the art that rules of the “undercut” type must be respected, like a molding.

According to one preferred embodiment, the cushion 3 is a thermal insulator, preferably made from fiberglass, and the hull 4 is metallic, preferably made from stainless steel, so that the shield 1 constitutes a heat shield. This is applicable to the protection of a hot component 2, in particular in a motor vehicle: radiator line or the like such as catalytic converter or other exhaust element.

According to another feature, the hull 4 is made from a thin sheet, preferably with a thickness between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, still more preferably equal to 0.15 mm Such small thicknesses favor any deformation of the profile 7, 8, during the assembly/hooking or during an attempted disassembly and reinforce the irreversibility of the assembly.

Although various embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure. 

1. A shield for a component, comprising: a cushion surrounding substantially an entire outer surface of the component; and a hull surrounding substantially an entire outer surface of said cushion, wherein said hull comprises at least one first shell, at least one edge of which is shaped as a first profile bent substantially in a shape of a U or a V toward an outside relative to the component, and at least one second shell, at least one edge of which, opposite said at least one edge of the at least one first shell, is shaped as a second profile bent substantially in a shape of a U or V toward an inside relative to the component, such that said at least one edge of the at least one first shell is able to be assembled to said at least one edge of the at least one second shell by hooking of the first profile with the second profile.
 2. The shield according to claim 1, where at least one of the at least one first shell and the at least one second shell has an elasticity, so as to allow the engagement of said first profile with said second profile and a performance of said hooking to produce an assembly of the at least one first shell and the at least one second shell.
 3. The shield according to claim 1, where shapes and sizes of the at least one first shell and the at least one second shell are configured to match a shape of the cushion.
 4. The shield according to claim 1, where the cushion has a flexibility in compression.
 5. The shield according to claim 1, where the at least one first shell and the at least one second shell form facing shells that are sized so that at least one among the a least one edge of the at least one first shell and the at least one edge of the at least one second shell deforms during the hooking, so as to make the hooking inseparable.
 6. The shield according to claim 1, where bending of the U or the V of at least one of the first and second profiles is rounded.
 7. The shield according to claim 1, where an edge as the second profile covers a facing edge molded shaped as the first profile.
 8. The shield according to claim 1, wherein the cushion is a thermal insulator and the hull is metallic so that the shield constitutes a heat shield.
 9. The shield according to claim 8, wherein the hull is made from a thin sheet. 